Closet elbow connection



Nov,l 9, 1935. y I Q, KI MCFARLAND ET AL 2,021,317

CLOSET ELBOW CONNECTION Filed May 25, '1934 ATTORN EY Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE Owen K. McFarland and Charles A. Yeager, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application May 23, 1934, Serial N0. 727,028

1 Claim.

This invention relates to flush pipe couplings and more particularly to water closet elbow connections, as disposed between a toilet bowl or hopper and its flushing tank.

The prevailing disposition of the bowl is on the door, or a platform, its seat and cover portions being arranged at a convenient height thereabove an-d its discharge portion connected to a drain pipe; the water supply tank is ordinarily xed to a wall, or standards rearwardly of the bowl and at a suitable distance above it, so that an effective ushing of the bowl is provided,

The connection now in vogue consists of a unitary metal pipe elbow having one branch rigidly Xed in the bottom of the tank and the other branch secured to the upper, rear portion of the bowl in a manner not to interfere with the hinged seat and cover, care being taken that the permanent joints are water tight and substantially immovable after assembly.

Due to the fact that variations occur between the height of the tank outlet and the height of the bowl inlet, and also the horizontal distance between these two elements, it is necessary to provide commercial elbows for the use of plumbers of a corresponding range in branch lengths, standard stock sizes being Li X 6, 5 X 7, 6 x 8, 8 x 10, although all are uniform in diameter.

Furthermore, it occasionally occurs that the relative location of the bowl and tank must be changed, necessitating cutting the elbow in order to remove it and substituting a new elbow of the proper dimensions.

As the bottom of every bowl has a drain lip extending downwardly to t the drain in the door, it is necessary to lift the bowl directly upwards when the bowl is removed; and, in modern low tank types the connection is rigid and the space so limited that the bowl cannot be raised unless the tank is disconnected and removed, which necessitates destruction of the connection.

Having these matters in mind, it has been the principal purpose of this invention to provide an elbow capable of telescopic adjustment in at least one of its branches and therefore susceptible of adaptation and use between a tank and watercloset bowl of standard construction, irrespective of minor'variations in their xed relative positions.

A further feature is in the provision of an adjustable connection, including an elbow, by which the necessity of carrying a stock of elbows of different dimensions, by plumbers and like artisans, is avoided.

Another purpose is to produce an elbow that requires no cutting or mutilation when replacement becomes necessary and which is readily installed or removed.

These several advantageous objects are accomplished by the novel construction and arrange- 5 ment of simple parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, constituting a material component of this disclosure, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a con- 10;

ventional type of toilet fixture showing one application of the device.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same, showing parts in a separated position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional 15`;

view of the preferred form of the connection.

Figure 4 is a similar sectional view of a modified form of the connection.

Figure 5 is a partial side elevational view showing the disposition of the structure indicated in go Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a similar view of the same in a separated position.

Referring to the several views in greater detail, the numeral Ill, indicates a conventional type of 25 toilet bowl having its base H, fixed upon a oor or the like, where it is connected with a drain or soil pipe in the usual manner.

Above the rim I2, of the bowl is shown a seat I3, provided with a cover I4, connected by hinges as 30 at I5.

At the rear upper portion of the bowl I0, is a hollow extension I6, in which is iixedly secured a Spud I'I provided with threads on its outwardly projecting end. 35

A similar stud Il" is set in the lower portion of a water supply tank I8 which as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is slightly above and considerably rearward of the bowl I, While in Figures 5 and 6, the tank i8 is raised to a greater height and is more closely 4o adjacent the bowl. These and various other like conditions invariably obtain in practice.

The spuds Il-I are provided with glands i S-I 9 their annular anges being internally screw-threaded and their disc portions bored to 4o a size corresponding with the opening through the spuds, the standard size of which is 2 inches.

The glands lil-I9 are provided with annular packings 20--20 adapted to be forced tightly against the end surface of the spuds by setting up 50 the glands, such pressure on the packing causing it to make water tight joints with tubes entered therein.

In the present instance as shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, a length of straight thin walled tube 2 I, of a diameter fitting that of the opening in the spud, is entered therein and clamped adjustably by the gland I9.

'Ihe outer extending end of the tube 2l is expanded as at 22 so that its inner diameter is equivalent to the outer diameter of the main portion of the tube.

This extension may be produced by spinning methods or by dies, and the extreme outer end of the expanded portion 22 is provided with screw threads 23 which may be rolled or otherwise formed thereon.

An elbow is formed by bending a thin walled tube of corresponding diameter to produce branches 24-2 5 which as indicated in the drawing may be of unequal length, the shorter branch of which snugly ts within the Spud l1 to be held by the gland I9 while the opposite end 24 is similarly closely, but slidably tted in the expanded portion 22 of the straight tube, there to be held by a clamp nut or gland 26 engaging the threads 23 of the expanded portion, leakage being prevented by an annular packing 2l.

Obviously, the elbow 24-25 may be reversed, and it is equally apparent that the entered end 24 is adjustably held within the straight tube.

In the modifications shown in Figures 4, and 6, a straight tube 3B is shown as inserted in the spud .I'l to extend vertically downward, its lower end being engaged within the expanded portion 3| of the branch 32 of an elbow, the other annular branch 33 of which is connected in the Spud I1 in the manner before described.

The expanded branch 3|, is provided with a screw thread 34, at its outer end, the surface of which is contacted by an annular packing 35 drawn into operative position by a clamp nut or gland 36.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that either the elbow or the straight element may have an 'l expanded portion, and that the length of these elements will be determined by the relative positions of the tank and bowl.

It will be understood that changes in the arrangement, proportions and details, may be made within the scope of the claims defining the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, isz- 15 A connection between a water supply tank and toilet bowl comprising, in combination, a pair of spuds provided with cylindrical passages, each having externally threaded end portions and an enlarged wrench receiving portion midway thereof, said spuds being permanently set in said tank and bowl respectively, a thin walled drawn metallic elbow adjustably slidable in the tank spud, means on the extending portion of said spud to retain the entered end of said elbow in adjusted position, a drawn metallic tube adjustably slidably in the bowl Spud, means on the extending portion of said spud to retain the entered end of said tube in adjustment therein, said tube having its outwardly extending portion expanded to closely receive the opposite end of said elbow, and means carried by the expanded portion of said tube to retain the elbow in adjusted position therein.

- OWEN K. MCFARLAND.

CHAS. A. YEAGER. 

